Miles Bearden ('13) high jumped 7' 1/4" to claim the title of champion at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor, held June 14-16 in Greensboro, N.C.
Click here to watch a video interview with Miles after his jump.
Bearden’s performance at Nationals even topped his own personal best – which, until then, had been his 6’ 10” high jump at the GHSA State Track and Field Championships in Jefferson, Ga., in May. This jump won him an individual state title – defeating not only his Class A-Private opponents, but all 93 jumpers from Class A to Class AAAAAA.
“The whole stadium was cheering and clapping because they knew he had the highest jump,” said coach Alan Parish. “Miles is a very versatile athlete. His primary sport is baseball and he’s also a member of the swim and dive team. This is actually the first year he has high jumped for us.”
Bearden was the only athlete from Darlington to compete at Nationals, as he was the only team member who met the very elite entry standards. He currently has several scholarship offers on the table.
A three-sport athlete, Bearden has set a new high-jump record for Darlington, the previous record of 6’ 6” having been set by Joel Martens (’80) in 1978. Miles is the son of Molly and Wayne Bearden of Cartersville, Ga.
Click here to read a story about Miles that was published in The Daily Tribune News, Cartersville's newspaper.
Click here to read a story that was published in the Rome News-Tribune.
